I know it's only 5 games in, but I've gotta gripe!!

I too was wondering what Torres was doing on the floor.

I can't recall one thing he's contributed in the regular season.

 

Maybe we are "showcasing" 'Torres to include him with Langhi for some draft picks.

 

Back up a minute

Yes i agree tmo and griff need playing time but it will come trust me, he just doesnt want to rush particularly morris along, for rudy griffins development has been accelerated

By the way kidrock, please tell me you were being sarcastic, because torres has never had a chance to prove himself in a game(being a rookie), thus bashing him for coming him because its his first ever chance is ludicrous and id say the same if it applied to tmo, griff any other rookie or player whose been stuck on the ir his whole career like langhi

 

Gasol is playing, Parker is starting and even Chandler started tonight, but Eddie and Morris can't even see the floor? It is a legitimate gripe because I have it too. We're wasting our time with williams and rice playing the back-up 4 position. Isn't Eddie the same guy you gave away 3 draft picks for? Isn't Morris the same guy you thought was a 1st round talent? So why in the hell is Rice and Williams backing up the 3 and 4 spots? Maybe it will come later, but I don't want to see Rice on Duncan,Wallace or the other 4's we're about to see. Maybe once we get a dose of Peja,Lewis, Bryant, Dirk, and Odom, Rudy will realize Morris needs to play more 3 and maybe Rice is done, well done!

 

Totally agree with the post of leebigez.

Would like to add though about Eddie Griffin. Everytime he gets playing time, why does he always shoot threes? If he 's really 6-10, he should post up and establish an inside game.

The Rockets traded three draft picks for Eddie Griffin because of his post game and defense, not another three point shooter.

 

You know, Terrance Morris didn't exactly have a great COLLEGE season last year. In fact, he was very average.

What could possibly have changed so much in a year, that now he's suddenly ready for significant NBA playing time?

 

Well to be fair Gasol and Chandler are playing for sorry ass teams. Although based on everything y'all say about Griffin and how he plays (can't watch the games) I don't see why he doesn't get more minutes, especially more than the bagel he got last game. Maybe it's all part of some master plan that will pay huge dividends in the end. We can only hope.

 

First off I too am annoyed not to see both Eddie Griffin and Terrance Morris getting significant playing time so far in the regular season. Both guys played well and were IMO instrumental in helping us win some preseason games (the games against the Spurs & Detroit in particular come to mind). Both of these players are capable of the kind of defense that generates easier points for our offense and helps win games.

However, in case you didn't catch Rudy T last night on 950 AM KPRC he specifically said that Oscar Torres ("OT") played the almost the entire 4th quarter to prevent Denver from getting easy transition baskets. Rudy mentioned that Oscar has shown himself very capable of playing solid defense and that he gets back extremely well in transition defense (remember the one play in training camp where OT drew raves for getting back and blocking a shot on a fast-break) and that he could hit the outside jumper. Rudy said OT playing against Denver was just a matchup thing because Denver had gone small and was hurting us in transition. Rudy also mentioned that he anticipated Eddie Griffin getting the opportunity for more playing time in the stretch coming up against some really tall teams like Philly (Motumbo & Coleman), Portland (Wallace & Davis) and San Antonio (Robinson & Duncan). I too am super excited about all of our rookies, and I want to see them get playing time, but a 12 man rotation isn't realistic and sometimes the matchups will dictate the substitutions is basically what Rudy said. For my two cents worth, Rudy is the coach and we are 4-1, let him do his job!! Remember it is a long regular season, and having alot of talent on the bench will be helpful if the injury bug sneaks up on us later in the year. There will likely be alot of minutes to go around in time. Quality depth isn't the worst problem a team could have.

 

Another b**** session?

Griff has played in every game but one. Maybe Rudy sat him down cause he kept launching 3s.

TMO hasn't played because every game has been close. He will get his chance when its safe to put him in. Until then, the veerans get the PT to reduce silly rookie mistakes that might cost the game.

Rocks didn't get much preseason so Rudy has been utilizing this time to gel the team. Hopefully we can get our shooting % up and allow us to get the rookies some PT.

Torres only played sig minutes in one game. Rudy explained why on 610 as described earlier. Torres hasn't taken PT away from anybody.

We are 4-1. As long as Rudy is winning, I'm not questioning his judgement. You shouldn't either.

 

Tmo was honorable mention all-american, and played an important part of md's final four run. That's not 'very average'. While his shooting was off (particularly his 3 point shooting, which actually was very good in the preseason) he still rebounded, defended, distributed the ball well, and also blocked plenty of shots. Not all Tmo's contributions showed up in the stat column. I wonder if you ever watched him play.

As to what could have changed, it's mostly a matter of confidence. For the last couple years he's had NBA 'ability'. He's also gotten stronger.

So much can change in a year. Especially for Tmo. Just look at the change between his junior and senior years. On another team (or even a sans Walt Rockets) Tmo could effectively play 15-20 mins a night. It's not that hard to do, not to mention that he played four years of college, and is easily more ready for minutes than many rookies seeing time right now. He's just playing on a team that happens to be overloaded at his position.

 

With all due respect TMo, I have to agree with Haven about Terrance's sr year in college. Being a Terp alum, I followed them incessantly and what Haven may be referring to is the decline in production from the previous 2 years when he was slated as a lottery pick if he decided to declare for the draft.

As far as the Egg Man (my nickname for Eg)...while I'd love to see him become a bigger part of the gameplan, Im sure the coaching staff knows what they are doing with him. Don't forget that this is a guy RT and CD had theie eye on the entire summer before the draft (so I've read) so Im sure they are well aware of his capabilities.

If I'm not mistaken, Gasol played professional ball in Europe so he has SOME experience at the "pro" level. On the other hand, he, Chandler, Richardson, Kwame are all on terrible teams and they are looked at as saviors 1st and future stars 2nd.

 

Man, you guys have little patience. Torres got more minutes in the preseason anyway. that should have told you he was ahead of Tmo.

As for Eddie not playing, i think he could have helped in some of those games, including Denver, but you got to admit that KT is playing pretty decent. Rudy just has a little more confidence in the vets at the this time.

Give the rooks some time, they will definitely be in the rotation on a steady basis by the all-star break.

 

Eddie is 19 years old. Kobe didnt start when he entered the league. He has gotten some good minutes in the previous four games though, and you are basing all of these accusations abuot him not playing on one game. ONE game. There are about 77 more games to play, I think Eddie will get his chance, along with the others. If you are expecting a 19-year old to start and contribute 15 and 10 right away, you have some waking up to do. Gasol and Chandler are also on terrible teams, by the way.

 

If Tmo were playing lots of minutes, and we never saw Oscar Torres, we'd be hearing "Rudy needs to give OT a chance -- give him some PT".

It would be nice to see them both play more minutes, but they'll get their opportunities. We're winning with what Rudy's doing, and it's working well. I think Rudy has Tmo earmarked as our future SF and Griffin as our future C or PF -- we've got time.

 

Tmo: Sorry, his senior season was highly average. No other way you can look at it. Yes, he played well... when he had Steve Francis to divert attention from him.

Heck, last year he was surpassed by a player who was all of 145 pounds, or something.

I think Morris is a good defender. I think he rebounds well. I think he does need serious, serious work on his shot... and getting open/creating... or he'll never make it in the NBA.

 

dearest haven,

I guess it depends on what you mean by 'average'. In terms of Tmo's career it was below average. In terms of your average player at a top program, it was WAY above average. It would make more sense to say he struggled.

Also, the 'only good with Steve Francis' thing betrays a lack of knowledge. Tmo had a very good junior season at Maryalnd. Head to head he outplayed Battier.

Still, you are right that he needs to work on getting open and creating his own shots. But plenty of players can and have made it in the league floating around the three point arc. And I do think you will find his three point percentage will be good, if not great.

 

Other than this misspelling of "judgment", this bears repeating. 4 - 1! If you were a Rocket fan, you'd be happy. Would you guys be happier if we were starting Torres and Morris, but 0 - 5 as a result?

 

Guess who he has to divert attention from him on the Rockets...